Egg carton



Dec; 28,1937. v "N. A. PETTER 2,103,382

' EGG YCAYRITON Fi led Dec. 11, 1955 V 5 sheets-sheet 2 4 za v I'NVEYNTOR.

v ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1937.v

N. A. PETTER EGG CARTON iiled Dec. 11, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY$ Patented Dec. 28,1937

UNITED STATES" PATENT oFncE,

EGG CARTON Noel a. Potter, r Angelcs, Calif. i Appiicauonnecember 11, 1935, SerialNo. 53.88: I

. 11 Claims- (Cl. 229-29) This invention relates to multiple compartment boxes, and particularly to boxes. of this type adapted to be used as egg cartons.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an egg carton of simple construction, which can be shipped to'the consumer in a substantially fiat and compact condition, but which can be readily set up into the completed box by the consumer, and without necessitating the use of machinery. i

A further object of the invention is'to produce a box or carton of this type, which can readily be produced from a single blank.

A further objectof the invention is to produce a box of this type, in which the cover will be supported by the transverse partitions of the box so vasto relieve theeggsof pressure if the boxes containing eggs are piled one abovethe other; also to provide such construction with a substantial longitudinal partition which will effectively support pressure on the cover andform a very efiective reenforcement for the transverse partitions. Y 1 H e A further object of the invention is to produce an egg carton. of this type which, when the box is open, will hold the eggs so that a considerable portion of the eggs are exposed for inspection.

Further objects of .the invention will appear hereinafter.

, indicating an edge view of the blank shown in open positionwith the cover-of the box thrown- The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of whichcontribute to produce an eflicient egg carton. I

A preferred described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointedout in the appended claims,

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of ablankwhich I prefer to employ-in producing the box or carton.

.Flg. 2 is a diagrammatic view broken away,

,Fig. 1, and particularlyillustrating the direction of movement of ,partsof the blank in commencing o the operation of folding it up to produce the completed box or carton. I

Fig. 3 is a plan of the completed box in its back.

Fig. 4 is avertical section taken at onev end of the box on the line ll of Fig. 3, certain parts being broken away, and illustrating the preferred construction for interlocking the longitudinal partition of the box with the bottom.

Fig. 5 is a with the bottom.

, the walls A and C in a'manner effect at-the walls, preferably the integral cover 2, which is provided at its free embodimentof the invention is I The lower edge of means for interlocking thismeans preferably consists view similar to Fig. 4, but represent ing the longitudinal which it has when Fig. 6 is a cross-sectionthrough the box, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and further illustrating the relation of the parts in the completed box.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the completed carton, but illustrating the same in a substantially collapsed or folded condition, in which it would it is about to be interlocked be handled and shipped to the consumer to be 10 set up by him into a completed box. a

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the egg carton in its complete finished form as an egg container, and

shows the same withthe cover raised.

Referring more particularly to the parts, and

especially to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, the box or carton is formed with a bottom B, which-preferably consists of two inclined panels 3' and 13' integrally connected together, and this bottom is formed integrally with two side-walls A and C. The side wall C constitutes the front wall of the box. The box includes a longitudinal partition D, which is connected by two sets of transverse partition walls T' and -'1 respectively, with the front wall. C and the rear wall A of the box. The transverse partition walls are connected to to'attain a hinge points I (see Fig. 3). One of the wall-A, is provided with an edge with a tuck 3, said tuck beingpreferably provided with tongues 4 for a purposewhich will appear hereinafter.

Fig. '7 indicates the relation of the parts of a carton'when it isin its collapsed condition. 1 In order to facilitate setting up the box into its completed condition indicated in Fig. 3, 1 prefer to providemeans for securing the bottom portion of the longitudinal partition D tothe bottom B. This is preferably accomplished by providing the ridge or line of connection ofthe panels B and-l3 with a row of openings 5, said openings beingspaced apart and preferably having in general the diamond form illustrated in Fig. 1. the partition D is formed with with these openings 5, and of a plurality of downwardly and forwardly projecting tongues, 6, which tongues are. formed by means of large slots or notches I. cut into the lower edge of the partition, each slot being formed with a lateral notch 380 that anedge 9 is formed'at the upper edge of each tongue 6. In setting up the box, it is opened up from the position shown in Fig. I, and the connecting point III of the two bot- I tom panels 3' and 13 is moved inwardly as the side walls A-and C of the box are separated, so as to enable this angle In to be shoved upwardly to form a ridge l (see Fig. 6) at which ridge the inclined panels 13' 'gular portion l2 at a and i3 connect integrally (see Fig. 6). As the box bottom is forced upwardly in this way to form the ridge, the tongues 5 are introduced into the openings 5. This will occur with the partition walls T and T in a slightly inclined condition. As soon as the tongues have been introduced into the openings 5, the longitudinal partition is'then shifted longitudinally to bring the sets of partition walls T and I into alignment. with each other, and this movement will interlock the edges 9 under the edges of the openings 5, and hold the box in its set-up condition.

A box or carton constructed as described, is admirably adapted to be formed of a single blank, such as the blank I2, illustrated in Fig. 1. This blank comprises a main portion l2 of substantially rectangular form, and an extension I2 which connects with one end of the rectantransverse score line or edge IS. The blank is divided by transverse score lines ll, Ila, indicated by the dotted lines, so as to divide the blank into a plurality of panels A, B, B, C and C and beyond the panel C a plurality of inclined slits l5 are formed, which te at a score line IS. The ends of the inclined slits l5 communicate with short slits I! that extend along the score line l6. Beyond the score line It a panel D, and a panel B, is formed with a score line I! between the same. This score line ll corresponds to the bottom edge of the longitudinal partition D, and along this score line a plurality of spaced openings I! are formed, having substantially the configuration shown, and including projecting tongues as shown. The outer edge of the panel D is formed by a score line 2l, and beyond the score line 20 a plurality of inclined slits 2| are formed, corresponding to the slits IE, but inclined in the opposite direction; and these slits 2| also have an extension 22, which is in line with the score line 20'. These slits 2| terminate a little short of the edge 23 of the blank. The part of the blank that carriesthe inclined slits i5 and 2|, is provided with a plurality of transverse score lines 24, which cooperate with the adjacent longitudinal scorelines l3 and 20, to produce a plurality of substantially triangular attaching flaps C D and A but at the ends of these slitted portions of the blank, these attaching flaps are of substantially rectangular form instead of triangular. In forming the box from the blank, the blank is broken away from the flat position by bending it in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. At the same time, the transverse partition walls T' and '1' that are formed between the slits, are broken away from each other so as to open up this portion of the blank. The panels D' and D are folded by bending the material at the score line l8 in a downward direction, and the two parts D and D are secured together to form the double thickness longitudinal partition D. The strips T' and T that form the transverse partition walls are then folded on the transverse score lines. which form the attached flaps D and these flaps are secured to the adjacent faces of the panels D and D. The panels C and C are folded together as indicated in Fig. 2, by swinging the panel C upwardly over the panel C, and the attaching flaps C are formed up by bending the blank on the score line I3 and the transverse fore composed of the -for locking the cover of score lines 24. These attaching-flaps C are then secured to the adjacent face of the panel 0*. In the completed box the wall 0 of the box is theresuperposed panels C, C and the attaching flaps C that are secured on the inner face of the panel C.

In forming the box, it will therefore be evident that the score line a forms the upper edge of the wall 0 of the box. In order to provide means the box closed, on this score line I do, I provide two arcuate slits 25 terminating in short parallel slits 25a, which form short tongues 26, which are broken out from the blank and which project upwardly at the upper edge of the side wall C, and in this way a socket 21 is formed back of each tongue 26 to receive the tongues 4 on the tuck 3. These tongues are preferably-oi' tapered form, so that they present inclined edges 28 that turn inwardly to form small notches 29 at their roots, said notches being formed just beyond shoulders 30. With this form of tongue I it will be evident that when the tongue is shoved down completely in the socket and past the edges at 25a of the slits 25, the tongues 4 will be locked in position, holding the box closed.

Attention is called to the fact that by forming thestrips T and '1 as indicated in the blank, the completed box will present horizontal edges 3| for the transverse partition walls, which are elevated a considerable distance above the upper edge of thei'orward wall 0 of the box. These edges II are in line with the upper edge of the central partition wall D. Hence the transverse partition walls cooperate with the upper edge of the longitudinal partition wall D to support the cover in an elevated position, and above the eggs in the compartments. By reason of the fact that the longitudinal partition wall D is composed of two thicknesses or layers of the material, a very substantial support is aiforded for the cover, enabling the boxes containing eggs to be piled on top of each other without danger of breaking the eggs. In this connection it should be noted that the lower edge of the longitudinal partition D lies very close to the surface on which the eggbox rests, so that if any considerable pressure is exerted on a closed box, this partition will rest on the upper surface of the table supporting the box. If desired, the lower edge of the partition D may rest on the supporting surface at all times.

In making the box from the blank, wherever attaching flaps such as the flaps C D or A are employed, these flaps would be secured to the wall by an adhesive, and the adhesive would also be employed in securing the panels D and D together to form the longitudinal partition of the box.

It will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 6, that when the. box cover 2 is in its raised position, the eggs in the carton can be very readily inspected, as a considerable portion of their area will be exposed to view. This is advantageous in making sales, and has also the practical advantage that it facilitates removal of the eggs one at a time from the carton when in use by a householder.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

1. An egg carton having side walls, a bottom connected with said side walls and comprising two 7 the bottom and engaging into said bottom openings in said swinging movement, maintaining the ridge in its elevated position and holding the transverse partition walls in a fixed position.

2. An egg carton having side walls, a bottom connected with said side walls and comprising two inclined panels with a longitudinal elevated ridge connecting the same, transverse partition walls connected to the inner faces of the side walls, a

longitudinal partition wall having two superposed panels integrally connected together at an edge and integrally and hingedly connected with the transverse partition walls, to permit the longitudinal partition wall to swing longitudinally of the carton said bottom ridge having a plurality of openings spaced along the same, and the lower edge of said longitudinal partition wall having hooks for engaging into said bottom openings by said swinging movement, maintaining the ridge in its elevated position and holding the transverse partition walls in a fixed position.

3. An egg carton having side walls, a bottom integrally connected with said side walls and comprising two inclined panels with a longitudinal elevated ridge connecting the same, transverse partition walls connected torthe innerfaces of the side walls, a longitudinal partition wall having 2 two superposed panels integrally connected together at an edge and integrally connected with the transverse partition walls, so as to permit longitudinal swinging movement of the longitudinal partition wall, said bottom ridge having a plurality of openings spaced along the same, and

the lower edge of said longitudinal partitionwall having hooks for engaging into said bottom openings by said longitudinal swinging movement,

thereby maintaining the ridge in its elevated position and holding the transverse partition walls in a fixed position, one of said side walls having an integral cover to extend across and close the upper side of the carton, and havinga tuck for securing the same to the opposite side wall, said transverse partition walls having elevated edges adjacent the longitudinal partition wall for supporting the cover.

4. An egg carton having side walls,-a bottom integrally connected with said side walls and comprising two inclined panels with alongitudinal elevated ridge connecting the same, said ridge having a plurality of spaced openings therethrough, a set of transverse partition walls located adjacent one of said side walls and integral with the same, a second set of transverse partition walls connected to the inner face of the other side wall, a. longitudinal partition wall integrally connected with the transverse partition walls and comprising two superposed layers of material .integrally connected together, said longitudinal partition wall and the transverse walls capable of swinging longitudinally of the carton, said longitudinal "partition wall having a plurality of hooks formed at its lower edge ior engaging into said openings.

5. An egg carton having side walls and a bottom with an upwardly projecting ridge extending substantially parallel with the side walls, a longitudinal partition wall extending substantially parallel with the side walls, integral transverse partition walls integral with the longitudinal partition wall and integral with one of said side walls,

, said longitudinal partition wall and the transverse walls capable of swinging longitudinally of the carton, said ridge having a row of spaced openings therein and said longitudinal partition having hooks extending downwardly from its lower edge and hooking into said bottom openings in said longitudinal swinging movement.

6. A multiple compartment box made of a onepiece blank, said box having a pair of upright side walls, an integral bottom having inclined panels inclining upwardly to form a longitudinal ridge, transverse partition walls integrally connected along their vertical side edges with one of said side walls, a longitudinal partition wall com-,

posed of two integral plies of the material, one of said plies having-integral transverse partition walls secured along their vertical side edges to the inner face of the other upright wall, and means for securing the lower edge of said longitudinal partition to the said ridge.

'7. An egg carton having side walls, a bottom integrally connected with said side walls, a set of partition walls integral with one of said side walls and having attaching flaps integral with the side wall and integral with the partition walls extending down, and attached to, the inner face of the adjacent side wall, a second set of transverse partition walls having integral flaps secured to the inner face of the opposite side wall, a longitudinal partition wall comprising two attached superposed layers of the material, one of said sets of partition walls having attaching flaps integral therewith and integral with one of the layers of the longitudinal transverse wall and secured to the same, the other of said sets of partition walls having integral attaching flaps integral therewith and integral with the other layer of the said longitudinal partition wall and attached to the same, and means for securing the lower portion .of the longitudinal partition wall to the bottom.

8. An egg carton having side walls and a bottom integrally connecting said side walls, one of said side walls having an outer panel and an inner panel integrally connected with the same at its upper edge,'said inner panel having integral attaching flaps connected therewith, at its lower edge and secured to its inner face, a set of partition walls integral with the said attaching flaps, a longitudinal partition wall comprising two layers of material juxtaposed and secured together, one

of the longitudinal partition wall to the bottom of the box.

9. An egg carton having side walls and a bottom integrally connecting said side walls, one of said side walls having an outer panel and an inner panel integrally connected with the same at its upper edge, said inner panel having integral attaching flaps connected therewith at its lower edge'and secured to its inner face, a set of partition walls integral with the said attaching flaps,

a longitudinal partition wall comprising two layers of material juxtaposed and secured together,

one of said layers of material having integral attaching flaps integrally connected to the same at its upper edge and integrally connected with the said set of partition walls, the other layer of said longitudinal partition wall having attaching flaps integrally connected with the same at its upper edge and secured to its outer face, said last named attaching-flaps having a set of partition walls integral therewith with attaching flaps secured to the inner face of the other wall of the carton, said bottom having two inclined panels integrally connected together to form a longitudinal ridge under the longitudinal partition wall, said ridge having spaced openings therein and the lower edge of said longitudinal partition wall having hooks for engaging into said openings to maintain the ridge in its elevated position and hold the transverse partition walls in a fixed position.

10. A blank for forming an egg carton having a substantially rectangular portion with substantially parallel longitudinal crease lines dividing the same into panels including a bottom panel, said bottom panel having a row of spaced openings therein, said blank including an extension at one end of the substantially rectangular portion for forming a longitudinal partition wall and transverse partition walls, and including an ex-. tension adjacent the first-named rectangular extension with a plurality of substantially parallel slits therein'forming a plurality of strips adapted to form one set of the transverse partition walls, said blank having a panel beyond the said slits for forming the longitudinal partition wall, said last-named panel having a central longitudinal score line and having a row of spaced openings therein with tongues projecting into the said openings longitudinally of the last-named panel, said blank having a panel beyond the last named panel with a plurality of substantially parallel slits therein forming a plurality of strips to form a second set of transverse partition walls.

11. A blank for forming an egg carton having a substantially rectangular portion with substantially parallel longitudinal crease lines dividing the same into panels including a bottom panel, said bottom panel having a row of spaced openings therein, said blank including an extension at one end of the substantially rectangular portion for forming a longitudinal partition wall and transverse partition walls, and including an extension adjacent the first-named rectangular extension with a plurality of substantially parallel slits therein extending in a general inclined direction with respect to the axis of the blank, and forming a plurality of strips adapted to form one set of the transverse partition walls, said blank having crease lines on said strips extending substantially at right angles to the direction in which the panels extend, said blank having a panel beyond the said slits for forming the longitudinal partition wall, said last-named panel having a central longitudinal score line and having a row of spaced openings therein with tongues projecting into the said openings longitudinally of the last-named panel, said blank having a panel beyond the last named. panel with a plurality of substantially parallel slits therein forming a plurality of strips to form a second set of transverse partition walls.

NOEL A. PEITER. 

